Container Arrival

I am constantly asked about my shopping forays in France and Belgium.  One of the questions always asked is "How do get your things back?". Do I send them via a shipping service like UPS or FedEx?  How does it work?  Well, I send them back via a container.  A 40 foot container.  It requires hiring packers, brokers, shipping agents, shipping company, trucking company, crews to unload and more.  Cheap, it is not. Easy, it is not.  But, when it arrives ...... like Christmas morning!

Coming 'round the bend!

I live in the South Carolina Low Country right in the center of the "Old Town".  Delivery day requires a fevrent prayer for good weather as there is no warehouse loading dock.  Nope, just a beautiful, sandy dirt street that runs along past my house where the low branches of massive oaks dripping with spanish moss challenge the best.  You try backing a 40 foot container into my "loading dock" area!

It's here, finally!

Bolt cutters are the preferred way to clip the special lock, however I can almost never find mine (who misplaces bolt cutters!!), so its almost always a hack saw to the rescue.

A peek inside and notice the lack of any kind of ramp.  Everything must be unloaded straight from the container down to the ground.  No easy feat when you have awkward pieces weighing hundreds of pounds!

And the doors open!! Let the fun begin!

With a holding area like this, you keep fingers and toes crossed that the weather will be one of those glorious Lowcountry days!

Its all hands on deck, including a little help from my friends!

So, how do you "ship"?

Salut!
Lynn



Remembering

My children, now grown, used to come home to Andre Boccelli blaring at a level I would have told them would permantely damage their hearing. They would look at each other and know that I was in my "Europe" mode. We had lived in Brussels for 4 years and I loved it. Every bit of it including the endless cloudy days, the rain, the lack of parking,,, and the lifestyle, the bread, the markets, the wine and cheeses, and let's not forget .. the antiques. But, best of all. as a mother, the lack of tv, no drivers license for teenagers, restaurants that forced you to take your time and enjoy your meal .. time spent together as a family.

I count my blessings. My children. My time here in France doing what I love ...hunting. Hunting for antiques.

Watching sunrises and sunsets over hilltop villages. Wandering through alleys where views and history beg you to whisper in awe one moment and listen for the trumpets sounding in the next.

Blessings where my friends at home sent me off with their best wishes and toast to my success. I miss you.

Blessed. How sweet the sound.

Salut!
Lynn